Last Wednesday, Alastair and Roopa scored invites to the premiere of The Odyssey at the IMAX. They’re absolutely buzzing to share their thoughts on Christopher Nolan’s massive, visceral new epic!
A new Nolan Movie? Yes, you have my attention. I went into this film with very little backstory. Unless watching movies like 300 or Gladiator counts, my knowledge of classics is deeply lacking.
Not knowing what to expect was an unexpectedly enjoyable way to watch a film. I could sit back and let the movie's atmosphere wash over me. The soundtrack and sound effects paired brilliantly with the scenes. It was enrapturing, at times it felt as if I was in the centre of the battle at Troy. I have never been moved by the sound effects of a film quite like the way I was in the Odyssey. The 70mm IMAX format was incredible, every frame composed with the care and attention we've come to expect from Nolan. Juxtaposing beautiful seascapes with dark, intimate halls. The eyes were never bored.
Beyond all the technical mastery of the film itself, you cannot look past the emotion and humanity expressed by the cast and the story. The trials of Odysseus, his crew, and his family were fraught with emotion. Challenged by his subjects, rulers, and peers, the film addressed deep questions about decision-making and how those decisions shape us. Constantly forced to make decisions between bad outcomes, Odysseus became haunted by the loss of his men. The film exposes some confronting truths about humanity and our history.
I've recently read both Red Rising and the Heirarchy series - both with elements of our classical past pushed further into the future - what if the empires of old didn't fall? The Odyssey feels like a continuation of this classical theme, though reimagined from its source material. This film has left me feeling refreshed and has piqued my interest in the setting, sparking a previously unknown curiosity. Through both fiction and non-fiction, I can't wait to explore more and will definitely be picking up a copy of Homer's work in the not-too-distant future.
As a big Christopher Nolan fan, I was so excited to attend the New Zealand premiere of The Odyssey. I haven't actually read The Odyssey, but I studied Classics at school, so I already knew a lot of the characters and stories. I think that made it a really interesting way to experience the film because I didn't know exactly what was going to happen, while still understanding the world and the mythology.
First of all, seeing it in IMAX was amazing. I definitely recommend watching it that way if you can because the visuals and sound are incredible. The only downside is that at nearly three hours long, the seats start to get a bit uncomfortable!
I really liked the darker tone of the film. Some scenes were genuinely creepy, and there were moments where I was actually scared. I also thought the whole cast did a great job and really brought the characters to life.
My only real criticism is that because the story covers such a long period of time, the pacing can feel a bit up and down. I think that's more to do with the original story than the film itself. Whenever it started to slow down, though, there was usually an action scene that pulled me straight back in.
Overall, I really enjoyed The Odyssey. It's visually stunning with a great score, and it's definitely made me want to finally read the book. I'd give it 4 out of 5 stars.
Having attempted to read The Odyssey in the past and only making it a few pages in, I was a little nervous about seeing the movie. My sister managed to twist my arm though, and I'm so glad she did because I was pleasantly surprised by how good it was.
The cast was fantastic, and everyone felt perfectly suited to their roles. Having studied Classical Studies in high school, it was fun recognising the myths and characters I'd learned about years ago and seeing them brought to life on screen. It made the story much more engaging than I remembered from my school days.
The only thing that let it down slightly for me was the runtime. It started to feel a little long towards the end, and I found my attention wandering during a few scenes. That said, the performances and storytelling more than made up for it. Plus, the little romantic in me was totally waiting for a happy ending, even though I should have known better.
I feel like the film does a great job of making an ancient epic feel accessible without losing the scale and adventure that has made it such an enduring story. If, like me, you've struggled to get through the original text, I'd definitely recommend giving the movie a chance. It even inspired me to go home and research which translation of the poem I should finally read.
About the movie: Odysseus, king of Ithaca, embarks on a perilous journey to return home after the Trojan War. Crossing the Mediterranean Sea with his fellow soldiers, they soon find themselves battling not only the elements, but an array of deadly obstacles and mythical creatures along the way.
The Odyssey Screenplay
Christopher Nolan's, The Odyssey, is a mythic action epic shot using brand new IMAX® film technology.
The film stars Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Robert Pattinson and Lupita Nyong'o, with Zendaya and Charlize Theron.
Christopher Nolan is the writer/ director of Following, Memento, The Prestige (with Jonathan Nolan), and Inception, as well as Batman Begins (with David S. Goyer), The Dark Knight (with Jonathan Nolan) and The Dark Knight Rises (with Jonathan Nolan).
